Serials (large thread)

[CINDERS]

Came across this today hope it helps;
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SERIAL NUMBERS...

Earlier SMLE and previous MLM & MLE rifles & carbines initially had the action body batches allocated a letter, before the serial numbers were stamped (to 9999 in each series). These commenced with no letter, then progressed A thru' Z, often nominated for different contractors, RSAF Enfield, RSAF Sparkbrook, BSA Co., LSA Co., and the peddled scheme during WW1. It is interesting that different rifle and carbine Marks recommenced with the no letter and A-Z series with each new model, so it is possible to find carbines/rifles of different Mark designations with the same serial number. This is a reason that upon unit issue, serial nos. were not recorded, rather that rack numbers were assigned and stamped on the butt or butt-plate tang. On some rifles, particularly the SMLE, these unit or rack issue numbers were stamped on the top of the action body as well, e.g. in Aussie service '3.M.D.' (3rd Military District) '10381' (the Military District or unit rack no.)

On MLM, MLE and earlier SMLE rifles, the batch letter will be noted sometimes above or below the serial no. because the serial number was stamped later in production and stamped on the body and breech bolt too. Serial nos. stamped on the nosecap boss, fore-end, underside of the rearsight leaf, &c. was done at Base Ordnance Depots and by armourers to keep together components original to particular rifles during maintenenace and repair. This also applied, to a certain degree, to No.4 and No.5 rifles, particularly to the fore-end and later extended to the magazine case as well. For the SMLE, we usually find serial nos. stamped on magazine cases only on Indian issue rifles.

Recording of serial numbers for Enfield muskets, .577 Sniders and .450 & .303 Martini rifles & carbines is essential for your own records (insurance, registers, &c.) however the numbers stamped on the butt or even on action bodies are rarely the firearm's serial number. Rack or issue numbers were stamped on the right side of the butt, or marking disk (.303 arms only), on the butt-plate tang (Sniders & Enfields only) and occasionally on the action body itself, usually atop the receiver ring. While rack or issue numbers help identification, they are not the firearm's serial number.

Until 1st January 1925, the master number of a firearm was that on the barrel rather than the action body. On Sniders and Martinis, the serial number is not visible and removing a fore-end to see the number on the barrel or front inside of the body can damage wood furniture, especially if the securing pin (a la M.H. Mk I & II, M.M. & M.E. too) has rust on it. M.H. serial numbers are found on the inside right, front of the body while .303 conversion numbers used the left side. So as to match critical parts, serial number was also stamped under the rear sight leaf (and fore-ends, nosecaps, bolts, of Lee-Enfields too). You may find serial numbers easily by lifting up the backsight leaf, more convenient than removing the fore-end, IF that leaf is original to the firearm. serial nos. for .577 Sniders and .450 & .303 Martini rifles & carbines is required for your own records (insurance, registers, &c.) but numbers stamped on the butt or even action bodies are rarely a firearm's serial number. Rack or issue numbers were marked on the right side of the butt, or marking disk (.303 arms only), on the buttplate tang (Sniders & Enfields only) and occasionally on the action body itself, usually atop the receiver ring. While rack or issue numbers help identification, they are not the firearm's serial number.

Until 1st January 1925, the master number of a firearm was that on the barrel rather than the action body. On Sniders and Martinis, the serial number is not visible; removing a fore-end to see the number on the barrel or front inside of the body may damage furniture, especially if the securing pin (a la M.H. Mk I & II, M.M. & M.E. too) has rust on it. M.H. serial numbers are found on the inside right, front of the body while .303 conversion numbers used the left side. So as to match critical parts, serial number was also stamped under the rear sight leaf (and fore-ends, nosecaps, bolts, of Lee-Enfields too). You may find serial numbers easily by lifting up the backsight leaf, more convenient than removing the fore-end, IF that leaf is original to the firearm.

No.4 and No.5 rifle serial numbers can readily identify manufacturers. British No.4 rifles have five numbers, usually after one or two letter prefixes. The same letter prefix(es) were used by Maltby, Fazakerley & BSA Shirley, A to Z then AA, AB to AZ, then BA to BZ, CA to CZ &c. Maltby rifle serial numbers commence with a number '1', Fazakerley with a '2' and Shirley with a '3', e.g. 1xxxx for Maltby, 2xxxx for Fazakerley and for Shirley, 3xxxx, after the letter prefix. Late Shirley numbers then supposedly ran A4000 to A7999 and with PS prefixes at the very end of production. Post-war Fazakerley No.4 rifles had PF letter prefixes. The only exception to the 5-number sequence for No.4 rifles was the initial BSA Shirley production which ran from 0001 to 9999 then went with A to Z prefixes (A0001 to A9999 to the Z prefix) and some early dual letter prefixes (e.g. AT 0303), but then went over to A30001, &c. So early M47C No.4 rifle numbers could be confused with the Jungle carbine in having four rather than five numbers.

Long Branch (Canada) serial numbers incorporate an 'L' in the serial number while US Savage numbers include an 'C' in a similar relative position amongst the numbers. Both of these No.4 rifle series commenced with 0L1 and 0C1 respectively.

No.5 Jungle Carbines only have 4 numbers, the Shirley carbines have BB to C? prefixes, last production was post World War 2. The Fazakerley jungle carbines ran from FE1 to FE1000 initial production, then with no letter prefix, followed by A1 to A9999 through Z9999.

Serial numbers of certain Lee-Enfields can serve as indicators of the model and help with initial authentication. The 'BS' prefix was used for the .22 British No.7 rifles, 'T1' for the .22 No.5 trials small-bore target rifles in 1945 and 'DA' for the .22 No.8 N.Z. contract rifles by BSA Shirley. 'SKN' was applied to factory sectionized models, an 'XP' prefix was used for Lithgow Shortened & Lightened SMLE and No. 6 jungle carbines, 'X' was used for a small number of Lithgow No.1 rifles with stainless steel barrels and 'FE' was used for early production Fazakerley No. 5 jungle carbines. Trials No. 1 Mk VI and No. 4 Mk 1 rifles made in the early 1930s have an 'A' prefix to their original serial numbers although many were later upgraded to No. 4 specs and the 'A' became a suffix to indicate the fitting of some non-interchangeable components. On No. 4 rifles, an 'A' suffix was stamped by a repair depot or armourer after the serial number when some parts were found to be non-interchangeable.
And of course, with the Canadian No.4 rifles, the letter 'L' precedes the last four numbers as does a 'C' for the Chicopee Falls production Stevens Savage Lend-Lease No.4 rifles and 'J5550' (the drawing number) prefixes the Canadian Lightened No. 4 serial number. After the initial 99,999 rifles, the Lithgow No. 1 (S.M.L.E.) proceeded through 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E' and 'F' prefixes before the last rifle F40580 was manufactured in 1953. WW2 production ceased with F39580 and the 1,000 rifle run during the Korean War ran from F39581 to F40580. More details on serial numbers will also be found in the new book, 'The Broad Arrow'.
The 7.62mm L1A1 series serial number prefixes similarly denote makers. UE is Enfield, UB is BSA, UF is Fazakerley and AD is Lithgow, Australia. 'SAF' was applied by the Lithgow factory to certain export sales and 'SR' for Lithgow sectionized rifles. South African 7.62mm FAL's were Belgian production metric models, engraved with the South African crest. Indian 7.62mm 1A rifles ran conventional serial number series with a letter prefix.

7.62mm L2A1 prototypes (heavy barrel auto model) from SAF Lithgow had 'X' prefix serial numbers. Some were onforwarded to Malaya and New Zealand, good customers who purchased quantities of the 7.62mm L1A1 model—
X1 to Malaya (7 June 1961)
X2 to X4 to Malaya
X5 to New Zealand
X6 to X7 to Malaya
X8 to Malaya, returned to SAF and rebuilt, forwarded to Australian War Memorial
X9 to Malaya
X10 AIS (Army Inspectorate) Lithgow
X11 AIS Lithgow
X12 AIS Lithgow
X13 to Malaya
X14 to Malaya
X15 to Malaya (likely only 15 rifles w/ X serials built, following were converted receivers)
X18 rebuilt from X8 at AIS Lithgow
X19 rebuilt from X9 at AIS Lithgow
X20 TT 176 for Army trial, control weapon (normal barrel & gas block, concession trigger mechanism & body bullet lead)
X21 TT 176 (test/trials) used with X20 by the Army
X22 possibly a number allocation and not assembled
Australian L2A1 production commenced in 1962 with 3,000 rifles and continued until 1982 with a total production of 9,557 (excluding the X-prefix pre-production batch referred to above).

Lithgow SAF in-house L1A1 test and some special rifles have some different serial number prefixes. SAF was used for target rifles and commercial batches which included the L1A1A rifles for the United States, e.g. SAF830103. TT and TR were applied to in-house test models. TR0001 to TR024 are recorded as having been assembled,
TR0007 Fully chromed barrel & auto to ADE Melbourne
TR0008 Fully chromed barrel & auto to ADE Melbourne
TR0015 Adverse condition trial with selected components; TT56, TT57, TT58, TT59
TR0016 Production rifle for comparison with above
TR0017 Adverse condition trial TT60 / C110
TR0018 Deterioration of Rifle body using proof rounds; TT61
TR0019 For case proof Footscray, special hardened body BRH
TR0020 BRH body
TR0021 H2 body for cartridge case ammo trial
TR0022 H2 body for cartridge case ammo trial
TR0023 H2 body, test on body hardened at finished stage; TT72 & 74
TR0024 HT body, test on body hardened at finished stage. Also ejector trial.
TT64A, TT64B, TT64C, TT64D, TT64E to observe stretching of body
SR1 Sectionized rifle, to Senior Inspector, AIS
SR2 Sectionized rifle, to Senior Inspector, AIS SAF
SR3 Sectionized rifle, to Bandiana
SR4 Sectionized rifle, to Bandiana, for Melbourne Museum
SR5 Sectionized rifle, Factory inspection prototype
SR6 Sectionized rifle, Australian Trade Commissioner, New Zealand
SR7to SR18 Sectionized rifles, to Malaya
SR19 to SR27 Sectionized rifles, to New Zealand
SR28 Sectionized rifle, to Zambia
SR29 to SR36 Sectionized rifles, for factory personnel
SR37 to SR588 Sectionized rifles, service issue, some sold to collectors and museums
SR8800001 to SR8800010 were a special bi-centennial batch of L1A1 A sectionized rifles in 1988, also engraved 'AUSTRALIA'S BI-CENTENNIAL 1788-1988' over 'S.A.F. LITHGOW L1.A1. PRODUCTION 1958-1988' on the right side of the upper receiver. A special copper - bronze medallion was also inletted into the right side of the butt of these 10 rifles.

Serial numbers for British made L1A1 rifles and Small Arms ran in blocks with factory code and year prefix followed by the serial number commencing with an alphabet letter e.g. UB60 A85830 (last rifle by BSA for the 2nd quarter 1960). Third quarter numbers commenced with A85831. The initial BSA batch of L1A1 rifles for the quarter ending December 31 in 1957 was UB57 A1 - A870. For the quarter ending April 30th 1960, numbers were UB60 A63625 - A75299. The last serial number for the quarter ending 31st July 1960 was UB60 A85830. An anomaly... factory logged quarters ended with 30th April and 31st July???
'U' indicates UK. The next letter is the factory, 'E' for Enfield, 'F' for Fazakerley, 'B' for BSA Guns, 'S' for Sterling Engineering.
This was followed by the year indicator, e.g. '55' for 1955, then the serial number commencing with A1 which continued to A999,999 after which it advanced to a B prefix, starting with B1. The year indicator was irrespective of the serial number advance, e.g. the last rifle at Enfield in 1956 may have been UE 56 A2136, the first rifle in 1957 would thus be UE 57 A2137, until A999999 was reached after which the 'B' series was to be used commencing with B1, e.g. UF 68 B1.
Repaired weapons are marked with factory code, year and 'F.T.R.' adjacent to the original serial number. Where two or more types of weapons are manufactured or repaired at the same factor, a separate series of numbers will be maintained for each type of weapon, each commencing at A1.
For replacement numbers, i.e. unnumbered or illegible originals, SA prefixes were allocated for Army, SN for the Navy and SR for RAF. An example is an L1A1 returned by police in 1978 with an obliterated number was then engraved SA78 A1.
RSAF Enfield reported production of 103,400 L1A1 rifles, 108,300 L1A3 bayonets and 15,520 L1A2 grenade launchers by the end of the financial year 1961 for the War Office, Admiralty, Air Ministry, Ghana, Rhodesia, Nigeria and Singapore. Enfield FTR'd 10,000 No.4 Mk 2 rifles for Burma in that period, new No.4 rifles were made at ROF Fazakerley.

Serial Number & Nomenclature Notes...

Serial numbers on British service firearms during the period prior to 1925 had a different significance to modern day serial numbers. This applies to all pre-1925 military firearms including the Snider, Martinis, Magazine Lee-Metford and Magazine Lee-Enfield as well as to the S.M.L.E. rifles of the period.
The master serial number was that stamped on the barrel rather than the receiver. This is why some receivers or action bodies of the time may be noted with more than one serial number, the previous one usually being cancelled out.
This curious standard was due to a number of factors...
1. In the muzzle-loading era, the barrel number was of course the registered serial number for the firearm, even though it was not often visible. With the introduction of breech-loaders, the Snider in 1866, the barrel remained as the primary reference number and the action shoe was numbered to the barrel. This continued for some sixty years throughout the Martini, Magazine Lee and most of the S.M.L.E. era.
2. The List of Changes in British War Material announced the official change in paragraph A 610 (1st January 1926) ... when fitting components to rifles, the progressive (serial) number on the body, not that on the barrel, is regarded as the master number to be stamped on those components specified in 'Instructions to Armourers 1912'.
These stamped parts were the nose-cap (on the bayonet boss), fore-end (underside near the nose-cap), rear sight leaf (underside), bolt (rear face of the bolt handle) and barrel (right side of the knox form). Numbering of magazine cases was not applied until the end of World War 2, and thus only applied to British issue No. 4 & No. 5 rifles.
3. Rack numbers, as marked on the butt stock and/or butt plate tang were the issue reference numbers used in day to day service, rather than the arm's serial number. On Martini rifles in particular, the serial number on the action is covered by the fore-wood as it was stamped at the front of the action body. However, the .450 Martini Henry or .303 Martini serial number may be readily ascertained because it was also stamped on the underside of the folding backsight leaf.
Similarly, Canadian Ross rifles may be noted without serial numbers on the receiver as the reference number was stamped on the underside of the barrel. For record of issue and everyday use, the rack number on the butt was the reference for issue.

S.M.L.E. rifles may be noted with a small size engineers stamps, two, three or four digit numbers marked on the underside of the bolt handle and on the action body at the top rear, in a position covered by the closed bolt handle. When the bolt handle is closed down, these numbers, sometimes with a letter prefix, effectively face each other and are therefore not normally apparent.
These are the Proofed Action Assembly or P.A.A. numbers, a key to determine the originality of an action, although they were not necessarily marked on all S.M.L.E. (Rifle No.1) action bodies and bolts. This practice is more commonly noted on Australian production.
During production, after an action body, barrel, and bolt with bolthead were second proofed (first or initial proof is the barrel only), an intimate relationship was formed between these components and needed to be kept together during ongoing assembly, prior to the eventual serial number being stamped on the action body ring, barrel, bolt handle, &c.
Where an action has such a number on the body, but no similar number on the underside of the bolt handle, it has been a later replacement, although this may have occurred in service refits.
This factory assembly number was stamped when the body and bolt were mated, before the barrel was screwed in and a serial number applied to the receiver ring and barrel.

Lists of serial numbers are being moved here from our http://www.skennerton.com website, to give new site visitors access to earlier data while continuing to post new information on the original Bulletin page.
If you have rifle serial numbers lists and relevant notes on rifles you have observed or owned, Ian is interested in recording these, particularly British and Indian Mk I & Mk III series SMLE rifles, MLM & MLE rifles and carbines, their letter prefixes and factory with year of manufacture.
A specific chapter in the new 'Lee-Enfield Rifles' update of the 1992 'Lee-Enfield Story' is devoted to Serial Numbers. This updated and expanded edition also has a ready model identification chapter and colour plates. It was published in 2007, available now from Aust., N.Z., US and UK distributors. Go to... http://www.skennerton.com/NewBooks.htm
You can print out your numbers on our serial no. log page and fax to [+61] 7 5594 7951 or post them to Arms & Militaria Press, PO Box 80, Labrador 4215, Australia.
Or you can e-mail Ian Skennerton with the details: idskennerton@hotmail.com

Serial numbers are a good guide and indicator in the study of rifles, carbines, pistols and edged weapons, however their application should be considered more as a guide rather than a rule. Anomolies appear rather frequently, especially where they have been transferred or redesignated in refits or FTR (Factory Thorough Repair) programs.
Regarding Magazine Lee-Metford, Magazine Lee-Enfield and S.M.L.E. rifles, a letter prefix (or sometimes a suffix) will usually be noted with the numbers, as part of the serial number. These letter series however were not always concurrent, even at the original place of manufacture.
The same serial number sequences were often used by different makers, and on different series of firearms, so a serial number, e.g. A2785, may have been applied to a Lee-Metford rifle, Lee-Enfield cavalry carbine and Lee-Enfield rifle, all produced at the same factory, Enfield. Bayonet serial numbers are usually those of the rifle with which it was issued.

Duplication of serial numbers is a fact we must allow for in arms production. Despite strict controls at the various factories, such mix-ups are inevitable. To point out 4 prime examples...
1. SAF Lithgow L1A1 production in late '60s or early '70s duplicated a number of 7.62mm rifles found by army records a few years down the track. Internal inspectorate investigation found that from the number engraving, the duplicate rifle nos. seemed to have been done at BOD (Base Ordnance Depots) on new spare bodies.
2. BSA Shirley's .22 No.5 trials rifles were a 100-rifle order, listed in various records as being 100. However, ICI proof records list at least 2 of these duplicated in their serial numbers, along with a few in excess of the supposed 100 number. Actual production was over 100, by at least 6 rifles.
3. Lithgow 5.56mm F88 production, computer controlled for the serial number engraving progression, is reported to have had at least one duplicated number, from Army Inspectorate records.
4. US factory .303 Patt. '14 production used the same serial numbers by the 3 manufacturers, so virtually all serial numbers in P'14 rifles are triplicated. As were M'17s. Lee-Enfield production at Enfield, BSA and LSA appear to have also started with the number 1, through letter suffixes and prefixes, so it is possible to encounter these rifles from various makers with same serial numbers.

'L'-prefix Nomenclature
This listing of ‘L’ series Rifles & MG's still has a few gaps. L-prefix nomenclature was introduced into British service (and Australian too) in the mid-1950s. It also applies to other ordnance; we see items such as ‘L2 55mm Smoke Bomb’, ‘L2 hand grenade’ and ‘L9 SUSAT sight’. Separate and distinct ‘Lx’ nomenclature was applied to other munitions also... those relating to small arms are listed here. Do you have additional info? E-mail idskennerton@hotmail.com

L1A1 Rifle, 7.62mm (Canadian service is C1 & C1A1)
L2A1 Automatic Rifle in Australian service (Canadians have C2 & C2A1—
there is no British equivalent Automatic Rifle)
L2A1 Submachine Gun (Sterling) - but only in British service.
L2A2 Submachine Gun (improved version of L2A1 - British only)
L2A3 Submachine Gun (improved L2A2 - British only, currently in service)
L3A1 .30 cal Browning M1919A4 (fixed gun). Aust service, AFV.
L3A2 .30 cal Browning M1919A4 (flexible). Aust service, AFV.
L3A3 .30 cal Browning M1919A4 (fixed) w/ modified rear sear hold-open
conversion, currently in Aust service with AFV.
L3A4 .30 cal Browning M1919A4 (flexible), as for L3A3.
C3 7.62mm Parker Hale M82 Sniper Rifle in Canadian service.
L4A1 7.62mm Bren LMG conversion (X10E1) with Mk I bipod & steel barrel.
L4A2 7.62mm Bren LMG conversion (X10E2) w/ lightened bipod, steel barrel.
L4A3 7.62mm Bren LMG conversion of Mk II Bren (prior L4A1 & L4A2 were converted Mk III Bren) - these 3 guns UK service only.
L4A4 7.62mm Bren LMG conversion of Mk III Bren, one chrome & one steel barrel each. Also in current Aussie service.
L4A5 7.62mm Bren LMG conversion (ex-Mk III) w/ 2 steel barrels, Naval.
L4A6 7.62mm Bren LMG conversion, upgraded L4A1 w/ chrome barrel.
L4A9 7.62mm Bren LMG conversion, with GPMG dovetail.
L5A1 Mounting Tripod, 7.62mm MG.
L6A1 12.7mm Ranging Machine Gun on Centurion, ranging gun for 105mm tank gun.
L7A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, British-made version of the FN MAG. 200-rd. belt.
L7A2 7.62mm Machine Gun, improved L7A1 with revised feed mechanism and provision for fitting 50-rd. belt box under receiver.
L8A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, AFV; redesigned L7. Butt removed, firing solenoid.
L8A2 7.62mm Machine Gun, AFV, improved variant of the L8A1.
L9A1 9mm Pistol, Browning Hi-power, previously the Pistol No.2 Mk I*.
L10 ?
L11A1 9mm Automatic Pistol Kit (same as L9A1 but with accessories & kit).
L11A1 12.7mm Machine Gun (.50 cal M2 ranging), another designation for L6A1 in AFV service. Obsolete.
L12A1 .22 Conversion Kit by Heckler & Koch, for L1A1 rifle.
L12A1 9mm Blank Fire Attachment, Blank ammunition.
L13A1 5.56mm Blank Fire Attachment, Blank ammunition.
L14A1 84mm Carl Gustav Anti-Tank, in Australian service.
L15 ?
L16 81mm Mortar.
L17 & L18 ?
L19A1 7.62mm L7 series with heavier barrel to preclude barrel changes.
L20A1 7.62mm L7 adapted for Helicopter, for use in pods & external mounts.
L20A2 7.62mm L7 Helicopter Machine Gun, slight variant of L20A1.
L21A1 30mm Rarden cannon for AFV. Also obsolete name for .50cal L11A1 ranging gun, with barrel 152mm longer than L6A1.
L21A1 12.7mm [.50 cal] MG ?
L22 ?
L23A1 Rifle, 7.62mm Instructional.
L24A1 .50cal MG, Ranging Drill.
L25A1 Rifle Instructional, training version of L1A1. Non-firing model, but different to L1A1 DP.
L26A1 Rifle Instructional, variant of L25A1.
L26A1 30mm Rarden
L27 7.62mm L7, Inf DP version
L28 7.62mm L7, RAC DP version
L28A1 Canadian Cooey rifle with pistol grip modification for drill purpose
L29A1 .22 Trainer
L29A2 .22 Sportco Model 71S Trainer
L30A1 .50cal M2 HB DP (drill purpose) variant, also sometimes referred to as 12.7mm L2A1, DP.
L31 ?
L32A1 12ga Automatic loading FN Browning Riot Gun.
L33A1 .30 cal L3 Browning AFV Fixed Machine Gun, DP variant. 300 made.
L33A2 .30 cal L3 Browning AFV Flexible Machine Gun, DP variant.
L34A1 9mm Submachine Gun. Silenced version of L2A3 Sterling.
L35 ?
L36A1 7.62mm Machine Gun. Instructional skeleton model of L7.
L37A1 7.62mm L7 Machine Gun for AFV; special barrel for tracer. Mixture of L7 & L8 parts to enable removal for perimeter defence.
L37A2 7.62mm L7 Machine Gun, AFV, improved. Can be used on Challenger AFV.
L38 ?
L39A1 7.62mm Rifle, conversion of .303 No. 4 Mk I/2 or I/3 for competition.
L40A1 12.7mm Ranging Gun, used with Wombat anti-tank weapon. Also called .50 cal spotting gun, M8C.
L41A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, drill (inoperable model L8).
L42A1 7.62mm Sniper Rifle, conversion of .303 No. 4 (T).
L43A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, variant of L7, used on the Scorpion as a ranging gun.
L44A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, for Helicopters, Naval. Variant of L20.
L45A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, Drill version of L45.
L46A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, drill (Skeleton model L7A1/A2).
L47A1 7.65mm Pistol, Walther PP. By Manuhrin, France.
L48A1 37mm (1.5 in.) Riot Gun. Grenade Launcher.
L48A2 37mm Riot Gun, upgraded variant of L48A1.
L49 9mm DP L2A3 SMG
L50 9mm DP Sten Mk II Machine Carbine
L51 9mm DP Sten Mk III Machine Carbine
L52 9mm DP Sten Mk V Machine Carbine
L53 ?
L54A1 .303 DP variant of the Bren LMG.
L55A1 7.62mm DP variant of the L4A4 LMG.
L56 .30 cal DP variant of the L3 Browning AFV MG.
L57 & L58 ?
L59A1 D.P. conversion of No. 4 rifles for (Cadet use).
L60 - L64 ?
L65 ? (XL65E4 was 4.85mm LSW)
L66A1 5.6 x 16mmR (.22RF) Pistol Automatic, Walther, target. By Manuhrin, France
L67A1 37mm (1.5in.) Riot Gun. Arwen Grenade Launcher.
L68 - L72 ?
L73 ? (XL73E2 was 6.67mm version of 4.85mm LSW)
L74A1 12ga Pump Action Riot Gun.
L75 - L80 ?
L81A1 7.62mm Cadet Target Rifle, version of the Parker Hale M82 sniper rifle.
L82 to L84 ?
L85A1 5.56mm Individual Weapon (SA 80), British general issue 'bull-pup' assault rifle.
L86A1 5.56mm Light Support Weapon, LMG version of L85, with bipod.
L87 & L88 ?
L89A1 9mm Instructional Automatic Pistol.
L90A1 9mm Submachine Gun.
L91 9mm Submachine Gun (H&K MP5SD)
L92 9mm Submachine Gun (H&K MP5A3)
L93 ?
L94A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, Chain. Hughes EX34 chain gun applied to new generation AFVs.
L95A1 7.62mm Machine Gun, Chain. Further development of Hughes EX34 chain gun, applied to new AFVs.
L96A1 7.62mm Sniper Rifle, Acc.Intn'l. 700m iron sight, 6x42 Schmidt & Bender scope. SAS silenced model, sub-sonic ammo.
L97 ?
L98A1 5.56mm Cadet General Purpose rifle. Manually operated single-shot version of L85A1 EWS.
L99 ?
L100A1 7.62mm Rifle H&K G3KA4
L101A1 5.56mm Rifle H&K53
L102A1 Pistol, Automatic (Walther P5 Compact)
L103 DP L85 (SA 80)
L104-109 ?
L110A1 5.56mm Light Machine Gun (Minimi para model)
L115 .338-in. Lapua Accuracy International Sniper Rifle
L119 5.56mm Diemaco Light Support Weapon (M16)
L129A1 7.62mm Lewis Machine Tool Co. self-loading rifle, AR10 style
XL64 4.85mm right hand Individual Weapon
XL65 4.85mm right hand Light Support Weapon
XL68 4.85mm left hand Individual Weapon
XL69 4.85mm left hand Light Support Weapon
XL70 5.56mm right hand Individual Weapon
XL73 5.56mm right hand Light Support Weapon
XL76 37mm ARWEN
XL77 37mm ARWEN

R.S.A.F. Enfield (then M.O.D. Nottingham) produced the H&K 9mm MP5A3 SMG and variants for S.A.S., counter-terrorist squads and commercial sale, although it does not appear to have been awarded an L-series designation.

'C'-prefix Nomenclature
Canadian post-1956 small arms utilized a 'C' rather than 'L' prefix. World War 2 arms also saw the application of a 'C' prefix to designate Canadian production and/or issue.
C No.4 Mk I & Mk I* Lee-Enfield and (T) sniper variants
C No.7 Mk I .22 trainer
C1 9mm Sterling SMG
C1 7.62mm FAL rifle
C1A1 upgraded 7.62mm C1 FAL rifle
C2A1 7.62mm FAL heavy barrel, auto rifle
C3A1 7.62mm Sniper rifle
C3 7.62mm converted M1919A4 Browning MG
C3 rifle 7.62mm Parker Hale M82 Sniper Rifle in Canadian service.
C6 7.62mm MAG 58 GPMG (flexible or co-axial roles)
C7 5.56mm Diemarco M16
C7A1 5.56mm Diemarco M16 with optical sight
C8 5.56mm M16 carbine (shorty)
C9 5.56mm Minimi LMG
C9A1 5.56mm Minimi LMG with optical sight
C11 7.62mm Target Rifle
C12A1 7.62mm Target Rifle with optical sight
C28A1 Canadian Cooey rifle with pistol grip modification for drill purpose

Information

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